Compare Printers

16 ranked products · Two to 4 at a time · Updated 19 Aug 2026

Pick any two to four of the 16 ranked printers and read them side by side. This page opens on the board's top 3, Epson EcoTank ET-2980, Brother HL-L2460DW and Brother MFC-L2900DW XL.

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Printers compared side by side. Each column is one product, each row is one measure taken from the same research that built the board.
Measure	Epson Epson EcoTank ET-2980	Brother Brother HL-L2460DW	Brother Brother MFC-L2900DW XL	Brother Brother MFC-L3780CDW	Epson Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850	Brother Brother MFC-L8930CDW	HP HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e	Brother Brother MFC-J4355DW	Canon Canon imageCLASS MF753Cdw II	Epson Epson EcoTank ET-3950	Brother Brother MFC-L2820DW	Epson Epson Expression Home XP-4200	Canon Canon MegaTank PIXMA G3290	Canon Canon PIXMA TR4720	HP HP Envy Inspire 7955e	HP HP DeskJet 2855e
Tier	S	A	A	A	B	B	B	C	C	D	F	F	F	F	F	F
Rank on this board	1 of 16	2 of 16	3 of 16	4 of 16	5 of 16	6 of 16	7 of 16	8 of 16	9 of 16	10 of 16	11 of 16	12 of 16	13 of 16	14 of 16	15 of 16	16 of 16
Ladder points	1001 LP	801 LP	648 LP	647 LP	623 LP	622 LP	501 LP	403 LP	391 LP	308 LP	206 LP	186 LP	155 LP	83 LP	0 LP	0 LP
Our verdict	The most reliable super-tank with proven longevity and low cost per page.	Compact laser that consistently scores high on build quality and low maintenance.	XL version adds a larger paper capacity without compromising reliability.	Color laser all-in-one balances speed, quality and durability.	Professional-grade super-tank delivers lowest cost per page for high volume color printing.	Flagship color laser all-in-one offers best feature set for small offices while maintaining a low failure rate.	Consistently rated best overall by CNET for speed and print clarity.	Inkjet all-in-one balances cost per page with reliable operation.	Color laser all-in-one offers excellent print quality and solid warranty.	RTINGS’ “best inkjet printers” list praised the ET-3950 for its low cost of ownership and reliable firmware updates. The larger tank capacity means fewer refills, extending useful life.	The Brother MFC-L2820DW is a low-cost monochrome laser all-in-one that delivers only average speed and basic features, making it a poor value for office use.	Best cheap inkjet for occasional printing with low cost of ownership.	Ink leakage, inconsistent quality, sparse firmware support.	Unreliable ink system, frequent errors, poor long-term reliability.	Driver problems and slow firmware updates increase downtime.	High maintenance cost and frequent printhead issues.
What reviewers rate	Best balance of print quality, cost per page and long-term reliability for home/office use Modular ink system keeps failure rates low Firmware updates are frequent Great balance of features and performance	Consistent high build quality Best office printer at a budget price per RTINGS Among the top home printers per Consumer Reports Sturdy chassis	Large paper capacity High-capacity monochrome laser Handles heavy workloads Fast print speed	Speed Competitive price for a full-featured all-in-one Solid performance in office environments Strong output quality and feature set for its price	Lowest cost per page for high volume Best inkjet tested High-resolution color output Very low running cost	Feature set Best all-in-one tested Outstanding document print quality Blisteringly quick speed	Speed Best overall choice Crisp, clear text Crisp output	Cost per page Versatile inkjet all-in-one Balances speed, quality and cost Low ink consumption per page	Excellent print quality Solid all-in-one laser Sharp text Reliable speed	Low cost of ownership Reliable firmware updates Large tank capacity Extremely low cost per page from refillable tanks	Best office printer per RTINGS Praised for reliability and speed Sharp text output Fast warm-up	Low cost of ownership Compact size Decent print quality Solid performance	Large ink tank capacity Good for high volume printing Solid print quality High-quality color photos with vibrant detail	Solid photo & document printing Small footprint Easy setup Good color fidelity	Reliable performance Good support Long-lifespan laser-ink Good balance of cost and functionality	Basic printing Best cheap printer for home use per RTINGS Rock-bottom sticker price The default 'cheap printer' at every big-box store, so it's everywhere
Where it falls short	Slower than the machines ranked above it Less office-capable	Mono-only single function: no color printing, scanning or copying	Slower print speeds compared to peers Higher ink consumption increases running costs Maintenance requirements are greater than expected Slightly more to break than the simpler, cheaper HL-L2460DW	Less build headroom than the heavier-duty L8930CDW	Still an inkjet - carries clog risk if it sits idle	Overkill and overpriced for light home use	HP's firmware updates and cartridge authentication work against the owner Poor support reputation	Long-term running costs above the true tank printers	Long-term service reputation a notch below Brother Slightly fussier toner pricing	Higher purchase price Higher per-page cost compared to ET-2980 Inkjet heads can clog if unused for weeks Middling photo quality	Average speed Basic features Limited functionality Toner leakage	Small, expensive cartridges - running costs will quietly double its price Light-duty build Exists largely to upsell buyers to the EcoTank line	Ink leakage Inconsistent print quality Ink tank leaks Frequent maintenance required	Unreliable ink system Frequent error messages Poor color accuracy High cost per page	Driver issues Slow firmware updates Mediocre print quality Unreliable ink system	Frequent printhead clogs Limited firmware support Higher failure rate Slow print speed
Evidence behind it	40 sources across 30 outlets	33 sources across 28 outlets	8 sources across 8 outlets	22 sources across 12 outlets	25 sources across 19 outlets	18 sources across 13 outlets	48 sources across 29 outlets	9 sources across 7 outlets	12 sources across 10 outlets	30 sources across 23 outlets	27 sources across 23 outlets	17 sources across 17 outlets	26 sources across 24 outlets	31 sources across 28 outlets	12 sources across 12 outlets	47 sources across 39 outlets
Flagged as one to avoid	Not flagged	Not flagged	1 of 7 research runs	Not flagged	Not flagged	Not flagged	Not flagged	Not flagged	Not flagged	1 of 4 research runs	3 of 6 research runs	Not flagged	2 of 7 research runs	2 of 6 research runs	3 of 7 research runs	3 of 6 research runs
Announced	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
Where to buy	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it

Every column is the same research that built the board. Nothing here is a specification sheet copied from a maker. Read how we rank for what a tier and a ladder point mean.